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From Pastor Perry

05/15/2017 Gen. 50:22-26

Genesis 50:22–26 (ESV)

The Death of Joseph

22 So
Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s
own. 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then
Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

All good things seem to come to an end. Joseph dies at 110 years old. The Lutheran Study Bible
states: “The death of Joseph after 93 years in Egypt closes the first Book of Moses, but his request for final burial in Canaan reminds us that the story has only begun. Joseph’s life illustrates one of God’s promises for obedience to the
Law—prosperous, long life (Ex 20:12). Despite his long, prosperous life, Joseph looks forward, not back: “God will surely visit you” (v 25). Egypt’s material prosperity is not God’s ultimate blessing for His people. The
coming gift is the Lord Himself, His visitation, fulfilled in part in the exodus from Egypt. But even the exodus pales before God’s final visitation in the Messiah (Lk 1:68) and its culmination when the bones of Joseph and all the redeemed are raised
to immortality (1Co 15:53–57).

I pray: “Give ear, O Shepherd
of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock!” (Ps 80:1). Give us hearts that long for Your return to lead us out of the Egypt of this world to Yourself in heaven. Amen.